Process of coating and product thereof



Patented lluly 18, 1939 raoonss or course am) raonnc'r manor William Henry Moss, London, England, aasignor to Oelanese Corporation of America, a coup-- ration of Delaware No mm. Application December 16,1931,Se-

rial No. 501,520. In Canada September 21,

This invention relates to the method of apply ing lacquer containing organic derivatives of cellulose to metallic, wood, or other smooth surfaces.

This application is a continuation in part of 5 my application No, 225,857 filed October 12, 1927. An object of this invention is to provide a method of applying lacquer or solutions containing organic derivatives of cellulose, and particularly cellulose acetate to metallic surfaces, which lacquer on drying leaves clear, hard, firmly adhering and light-fast films. Other objects of my invention will appear from the following detailed description.

While the advantages of lacquer containing orl5 ganic derivatives of cellulose and particularly cellulose acetate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent of the lacquer base have been long recognized, their application on smooth surfaces such as metal, glass or hardwood has heretofore 0 been impractical because of the fact that when such lacquers are applied to smooth surfaces, the film formed on drying does not adhere to such surfaces and is therefore easily peeled oil.

I have found that while lacquer containing an 25 organic derivative of cellulose, such as cellulose acetate, as substantially the only cellulose derivative constituent of the lacquer base cannot be used to produce a film that adheres to hard, smooth surfaces, such lacquer may be applied to 30 a film formed from a lacquer containing nitrocellulose as the sole cellulose derivative of base. In accordance with my invention, the hard, smooth surface such as iron, glass or hardwood is first coated with a lacquer containing nitrocel- 35 lulose as the sole cellulose derivative constituent of the lacquer base. This nitro.-, cellulose,lacquer may be applied directly to the raw, smooth surface or it may be applied over an ordinary primer coat. The nitrocellulose lacquer may be a clear lacquer 40 or it may have any desired pigments incorporated therein. I One or more coats of this nitrocellulose lacquer may be applied to the surface. After the nitrocellulose lacquer film has just dried to the desired pigment. Obviously it contains suitable solvents and plasticizers.

The lacquer containing the organic derivatives of cellulose as the sole cellulose derivative of its base may be applied in any suitable manner, such 5 as by spraying, brushing, flowing, dipping, etc.

, In order to further elucidate my invention the fgilowlng specific examples of carrying out my 1 ention are given. A lacquer containing nitrocellulose as the sole cellulose derivative constitul0 ent of its base containing pigments to give it a green color is diluted with solvents to spraying viscosity and sprayed onto a metallic surface that has previously been coated with a primer containing linseed oil, turpentine, resin and pigment. Two or three coats of this nitrocellulose lacquer are applied although only one coat may be used. Each coat is dried for three minutes at 90 F. before applying the next. One or more top coats of lacquer containing cellulose acetate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof are then sprayed directly over the nitrocellulose coat and dried for 20 minutes at 140" F. A typical cellulose acetate lacquer that is useful for this purpose is constituted as follows:

. Celluloseacetate kilograms 10 Diethy'lphthalate 'do 2 Volatile solvent liters 100 Ethyl lactate do 20 The volatile solvent is made up as follows:

Acetone parts by volume 50 Alcohol do 22 Benzene do 28 1 The cellulose acetate may have any desired viscosity characteristics. I have found that cellulose acetate producing low viscosity solutions are very desirable. I have used cellulose acetate of 0.5 to 3.0 viscosity as determined by the test set forth in specification D-50 of the British Engineering Standards with very satisfactory results. While as above stated, the number of coats of the nitrocellulose lacquer and cellulose acetate lacquer may be varied at will, I have found it preferable to have the number'of cellulose acetate lacquer coats or rather the thickness of the cellulose acetate lacquer fllm less than the number of coats of the nitrocellulose lacquer or the thickness of the nitrocellulose film. When the relative .001 cm. thick or else one coat .002 cm. of cellulose acetate lacquer may be applied. I have found it preferable not to allow the proportion bf cellulose acetate in the built-up film to become more than $5 to that of the nitrocellulose lacque film.

The cellulose acetate lacquer, upon drying gives a clear film without blushing that sticks well to the unclercoat film of nitrocellulose lacquer, the two films being indistinguishable. The resulting film has a very high gloss. The cellulose acetate film meets the highest requirements of adhesion, hardness, toughness, etc. When exposed to a fadeometer for over hours, it does not show any change of color. After drying for 24 hours at room temperature, the cellulose acetate films show no substantial deleterious effects when immersed in water for 48 hours. The film produced in accordance with my invention is so smooth and even, that no polishing or further finishing is necessary. In proceeding in accordance with my invention, no sandpapering or polishing ofany of the coats of lacquer, even of the coats containing nitrocellulose, is necessary, thus entailing an enormous saving of time and labor. Furthermore,

the top coat or coats of lacquer containing the organic derivatives of cellulose protect the nitrocellulose coat against the deleterious action of the elements, particularly of light rays.

It is to be understood that the foregoing specific description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Obviously the proportions of ingredients may be varied within large limits in order to meet the particular requirements of the use to which the lacquer is to be put. Furthermore, the number of coats of the nitrocellulose lacquer and of the cellulose acetate lacquer that are applied may be varied at will. Any suitable plasticiser such as triacetin, tricresyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate may be used instead of diethyl phthalate as the plasticiser, Likewise, any, desirable low boiling solvent may be used. Furthermore, in-

stead ofethyl lactate other high boilers such as diacetone alcohol, tetrachlor ethane, benzyl alcohol may be employed.

composition containing cellulose nitrate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof and then applying directly to the film formed thereby a coating composition containing cellulose acetate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof.

3. Process of coating metallic surfaces comprising first applyi to said surfaces'a coating composition containing cellulose nitrate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof and then as soon as the film formed thereby is just dry to the touch applying directly to said film a coating composition containing an organic derivative of cellulose as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof.

4. Process of coating metallic surfaces comprising first applying to said surfaces a coating composition containing cellulose nitrate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof and then as soon as the film formed thereby is just dry to the touch applying directly to said film a coating composition containing cellulose acetate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof.

5. An article having a metallic surface coated with a film containing cellulose nitrate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof and a coating of a composition containing an organic derivative of cellulose as the sole cellulose derivative constituent directly on said film.

6. An article having a metallic surface coated with a film containing cellulose nitrate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent thereof and a coating of a composition containing cellulose acetate as the sole cellulose derivative constituent directly on said film.

WILLIAM HENRY M088. 

